India's BioE3 policy, recently unveiled by Jitendra Singh, promises to drive green growth through biomanufacturing and bio-foundry, positioning the nation as a leader in the global bioeconomy
The newly introduced BioE3 policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) will spearhead India’s green growth, leveraging biomanufacturing and bio-foundry, announced Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology. The Minister made this statement during the formal release of the pioneering Bioeconomy policy at the L Media Centre in New Delhi.
The BioE3 policy, recently approved by the Union Cabinet, aims to align high-performance biomanufacturing with key initiatives such as the ‘net zero’ carbon economy. Singh emphasised the pivotal role of biomanufacturing and bio-foundry in driving India’s future bioeconomy and promoting green growth. He also positioned India as a global frontrunner in the upcoming Industrial Revolution.
Singh highlighted the significant strides India’s bioeconomy has made over the past decade, expanding from $10 billion in 2014 to over $130 billion in 2024, with projections to reach $300 billion by 2030. He remarked that the BioE3 policy would not only be a milestone for the bioeconomy but also a game changer for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047,’ the vision for a developed India by 2047.
The Minister outlined the six thematic pillars of the BioE3 policy: bio-based chemicals and enzymes; functional foods and smart proteins; precision biotherapeutics; climate-resilient agriculture; carbon capture and utilisation; and futuristic marine and space research. These focus areas are expected to have a profound impact across various sectors, including food, energy, and health.
Singh also praised the public-private partnership (PPP) model, which has proven successful in both the space and bioeconomy sectors. He stated that the PPP model would be integral to the implementation of the BioE3 policy, incentivising industry participation to boost employment generation.
In his address, Singh underscored the unique advantages India possesses in biotechnology, particularly due to its vast biodiversity and bioresources. He pointed to the Himalayas’ rich bioresources and the extensive 7,500 km coastline as significant assets, alongside the recent launch of the Deep Sea Mission aimed at exploring biodiversity beneath the seas.
Singh concluded by asserting that it is the best time for biotechnology in India, with the nation’s untapped wealth of bioresources poised to fuel a revolution that will position India as a global leader in the bioeconomy.